New ambassador explains why Estonia supports Ukraine so strongly
Annely Kolk, Estonia's new ambassador to Ukraine, has explained why her country supports Ukraine amid Russian aggression so strongly.
According to Ukrinform, she said this in an interview with Estonian online news outlet DELFI.
"We are doing this not only in the interests of Ukraine, but also in our own interests. Since the outbreak of hostilities, the main goal of every Estonian diplomat has been to support Ukraine. Estonia really provides tremendous support. We realize that Ukraine is fighting for the freedom of all of Europe. Russia is our neighbor too, and if Ukraine doesn't stop it, the same could happen to us. We understand well what Russia is, we were under occupation. We warned that Russia might invade Ukraine, even when all of Europe did not believe it. We talked about her ability to do so. Ukrainians and Estonians, being occupied by the Soviet Union, understand each other quite well," Kolk said.
According to her, Russia is currently a member of the UN Security Council, but it should be excluded from this organization.
"It is important for us to jointly stop Russia, exclude it from international bodies and bring responsible persons to justice. Only then can we feel safe, and this applies not only to Estonia, but to the whole of Europe. We know what Russia is," the diplomat said.
She also drew attention to the fact that the topic of Ukraine has become a priority in the Estonian media.
"Estonia has a deep sense of justice, and what is happening now seems to us extremely unfair. It is unacceptable for one country to seek to destroy another country and its people. When there are attacks on peaceful cities, I don't even have words. You know that the topic of Ukraine has become a priority in the Estonian media. This has been going on for a year and a half now. We are all deeply concerned," she said.
On August 10, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis received copies of credentials from the newly appointed Estonian ambassador to Ukraine, Annely Kolk.